pike flies

byrdman35 · 07-08-2009, 05:04 PM

So my father tells me he would like to go up to grove and goose lake to catch some pike this weekend, since we were not able to take our annual Minnesota trip this year. I am sure that we will be able to boat some fish, but I would like to try for some northerns with my 8wt fly rod I bought a few months ago. Do you guys have any suggestions on flies to use? I already have a some larger clousers and poppers, but would like some other options. I would also appreciate any advice you have on other tackle i.e. leaders and such. Thanks

**buglem** · 07-08-2009, 10:50 PM

I'm no fly fishing expert but up at Goose, expect to be fishing a bunch of cattails and weedy areas so I would try to get something that is weedless if possible. Probably flashy too. I'll be up there this weekend too. Good luck!

jkol · 07-09-2009, 02:58 AM

A lot of traditional saltwater flies make excellent pike patterns. This year I had some good luck in central Minnesota on decievers, but tarpon style flies have to be my all time favorite. Properly designed ones don't foul and you can cast them all day.
Over the past couple years I've started fishing for pike with clear intermediate lines and I find them coupled with a short <7' leader to be very good for covering good pike flats.
As for bite tippets keep it simple tyger wire is good but any good knotable wire or stiff fluorocarbon is sufficient.
Good Luck!

Fish Recycler · 07-09-2009, 11:14 AM

Results prove that I know less about pike fishing than I do about quantum physics, but big bunnies sure look good in the water, and people who know what they're talking about fish them.

I'd be throwing 5" - 6" red and white, or black, or chartreuse and white rabbits with weed guards and upturned eyes if I was fishing up there.

If that didn't work I'd throw poppers or sliders.

And I might get skunked.

Hooligan · 07-09-2009, 12:30 PM

Variations on Dan Blanton's Punch are without a doubt the most productive pike flies I throw. They're not, however, commercially available. Tinsel puffs are a super effective fly, as are Flashtail Whistler's. I also do reasonably well on Puglisi ties, when they want something more subtle/natural. The last fly that I would add would be Clouser/Krey half and half. No it isn't, sculpin patterns tied in tan; imitates a sucker/carp.

07-08-2009, 05:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
byrdman35 byrdman35 has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	pike flies So my father tells me he would like to go up to grove and goose lake to catch some pike this weekend, since we were not able to take our annual Minnesota trip this year. I am sure that we will be able to boat some fish, but I would like to try for some northerns with my 8wt fly rod I bought a few months ago. Do you guys have any suggestions on flies to use? I already have a some larger clousers and poppers, but would like some other options. I would also appreciate any advice you have on other tackle i.e. leaders and such. Thanks

07-08-2009, 10:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
buglem buglem is messin with sasquatch... Director Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Elkhorn Posts: 1,158 Thanks: 173 Thanked 310 Times in 171 Posts	I'm no fly fishing expert but up at Goose, expect to be fishing a bunch of cattails and weedy areas so I would try to get something that is weedless if possible. Probably flashy too. I'll be up there this weekend too. Good luck! __________________ You're a strange person, Kevin. But you knew that. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Old Bald Guy

07-09-2009, 11:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
Fish Recycler Fish Recycler is glad that spring is here Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Council Bluffs, IA Posts: 1,971 Thanks: 379 Thanked 493 Times in 208 Posts	Results prove that I know less about pike fishing than I do about quantum physics, but big bunnies sure look good in the water, and people who know what they're talking about fish them. I'd be throwing 5" - 6" red and white, or black, or chartreuse and white rabbits with weed guards and upturned eyes if I was fishing up there. If that didn't work I'd throw poppers or sliders. And I might get skunked. __________________ You can be a Fish Recycler too...let 'em swim. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-09-2009, 12:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hooligan Hooligan is crusading. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,111 Thanks: 60 Thanked 355 Times in 225 Posts	Variations on Dan Blanton's Punch are without a doubt the most productive pike flies I throw. They're not, however, commercially available. Tinsel puffs are a super effective fly, as are Flashtail Whistler's. I also do reasonably well on Puglisi ties, when they want something more subtle/natural. The last fly that I would add would be Clouser/Krey half and half. No it isn't, sculpin patterns tied in tan; imitates a sucker/carp. __________________ "If people don't occasionally walk away from you shaking their heads, you're doing something wrong." John Gierach

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07-09-2009, 02:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
jkol jkol has no status. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 77 Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	A lot of traditional saltwater flies make excellent pike patterns. This year I had some good luck in central Minnesota on decievers, but tarpon style flies have to be my all time favorite. Properly designed ones don't foul and you can cast them all day. Over the past couple years I've started fishing for pike with clear intermediate lines and I find them coupled with a short <7' leader to be very good for covering good pike flats. As for bite tippets keep it simple tyger wire is good but any good knotable wire or stiff fluorocarbon is sufficient. Good Luck!